Identification card



May 27, 1958 N. WHITEHEAD IDENTIFICATION CARD Filed March 51, 1954 ATE OF [55 DATE OF. m

, HEIGH i svfi S NATUIIO MFLOYEE INVENTOR ill lilzii'fiemd BY 7/ ,W

ATTORNEYS IDENTIFICATION CARD Ned Whitehead, San Juan, Puerto Rico Application March 31, 1954, Serial No. 419,961

Claims. (Cl. 402.2)

The present invention relates in general to identification cards and badges and more particularly to substantially tamper-proof identification cards having a description and a photograph of the party to be identified laminated between sheets of transparent plastic material.

Heretofore a great many identification cards and badges for workers in activities requiring extensive security precautions have been composed of a photograph mounted or glued to a paper base upon which the name of the employer and employee and descriptive information concerning the employee are printed, which photograph and paper base are thermoplastically sealed between sheets of thermoplastic material such as cellulose acetate to preserve the identification card. It has been found, however, that this laminated type of identification card may be fairly readily altered so as to carry the photograph of an unauthorized person by cutting around the edge of the original photograph through the cellulose acetate material to remove the photograph, inserting a photograph of the same size in the space from which the original photograph was removed, covering the front surface of the substituted photograph with cellulose acetate, and gluing the same in position in the badge. This has been successfully accomplished with a sufliciently high degree of skill that the substitution is not readily noticeable to the guards examining the identification cards. 7

An object of the present invention therefore is the provision of an identification card of the laminated type in which a photograph is constructed of such material as to efiectively resist removal of the photograph from the laminated card.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel identification card of the type having a printed photograph and descriptive material therein covered by sheets of thermoplastic material, wherein the photograph is supported in the card in a manner effectively resisting removal of the photograph from the card.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel identification card of the type having a photograph and a supported card therefor having descriptive material printed thereon of the party to be identified laminated between sheets of plastic material, wherein the photograph and supporting card are of metallic ma terial resisting deformation of or removal from the identification card.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an identification card of the type having a photograph and descriptive material regarding the party to be identified laminated between sheets of plastic material, wherein the identification card may be coded to facilitate automatic identification of the card by establishing selected magnetic field conditions therein.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel identification card formed of a plurality of sheets of thermoplastic material laminated into a single card, wherein a magnetizable coating is incorporated in 2,835,993 Patented May 27, 1958 said card to be magnetized at selected locations within the card in accordance with selected identification codes.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating only two preferred ernbodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front plan view of an identification card embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a section view of the identification card, taken along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of identification card embodying the present invention, and

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal section view of the modified form of identification card taken along the lines 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate the corresponding parts throughout the several figures, an identification card embodying the present invention is generally indicated by the reference character 10 which, in assembled form in the preferred embodiment, includes a photograph 11 of the person to be identified extending over approximately one-third to one-half of the front face of the card and a printed area 11' containing the name of the issuing authority, the name of the party to be identified, the signature of the party to be identified, and certain descriptive information regarding the party.

As more clear-1y indicated in Figures 2 and 3, the first preferred embodiment of the identification card it) comprises a backing panel 12 for supporting the photograph 11, the backing panel being preferably formed of a rectangular sheet of readily magnetizable metal such as magnetizable steels now available on the commercial market. In the preferred embodiment, the backing panel 12 is a sheet of magnetizable steel of four one-thousandths of an inch thickness having a white ink coating baked on both the front and back surfaces thereof, the accumulated thicknesses of the white ink coatings on the front and back surfaces of the backing panel 12 together with the thickness of the panel being approximately five one-thousandths of an inch. The backing panel 12 is provided with a plurality of struck out securing tabs 13 located at positions to overlie the lateral edges of the photograph 11 and secure the same intimately against the front face of the panel 12. Additional upper and lower tabs 14 are struck out of the material of the panel 12 and are located to engage the upper and lower edges of the photograph 11. These securing tabs 13 and 14 are formed by cuts extending entirely through the backing panel 12 so that securing tabs of the thickness of the sheet metal forming the panel 12 overlie the lateral, top and bottom edges of the photograph 11 to prevent an unauthorized person from cutting through the securing tabs to remove the photograph 11 from the identification card.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the photograph is preferably formed of an aluminum or aluminum alloy photographic plate, such as are produced in accordance with the process known as anodic oxidation of the aluminum to produce a hard adherent and absorbent oxide coating on the aluminum plate which is treated to deposit in the coating a photosensitive salt such as the silver halide salts to record a photographic image and produce a photographic reproduction following known treatment procedures. An example of a satisfactory anodized aluminum photographic plate and a description of the process of producing and utilizing a ing panel 12. r Additional outer tran by the thickness of the sheets 15 and 16.

' embodiment, the various designs and legends provided i x a d r r t 6 the same isfound in U. S. Patent No. 2,115,339 issued to R. B. Mason on April 26, 1938. i The anodized aluminum photographic plate 11 developed to produce thedesired photographic reproduction and is dipped in a vinyl resin cement to coat thetphotograph and render it compatible with'and adherent to vinyl acetateand like thermoplastic sheets and t othe metal backing panel 12. The coated photograph isisuplported intimatelyi on the front face of'the backing panel 12 by forcing the securing tabs 13 and 14 down over the lateral upper and lower edges of the photograph 11, and

' laminating sl'leets l and '16 of clear thermoplastic material are disposedin overlying relation to the upper and" lower surfaces of the assembled photograph ll and back-V parent thermoplastic sheets 37' is then i magnetizable metal permits magnetic conditions to be established at selected points over the area of the card which will be retained for desired lengthsiof time by the metallic backing panel 12 and permit identification proouter transparent thermoplastic sheets 17 and 18 carry.-

and 18 are placed in overlying contacting relation over the sheets- 15 and "16 The intermediate sheets 15 and 16 aswell as the outer sheets 17 and18 are preferably formed a a of vinyl acetate or cellulose acetate or a copolymer of f'vinyl acetate and vinylchloride. The inwardly disposed "surfaces of these thermoplastic sheets 15 and litwhich form the intermediate laminaeof the card, are roughened and are printed with suitable inl; to provide the desired patterns and legends, whereby the ink will be protected In the preferred on the front and baclc o'f the card are printed in an ink which is soluble inketones and esters, to resist realigning the designs upon mechanically inserting a new photo-1 graph or a new section in a cutout portion of the card.

'Also in the preferred embodiment, the outer'laminating Sheets 17 118 i osed e e the f ntian tr ar l e of the/back panel 12 have imbedded therein'aseries of mutually parallel horizontally disposedgold or other 3 re h ad 1 w ih e end thrmlgh w l th ar as? the identification card having the printed matter 12 thereon and the area having the photograph 13; j

This entire assembly is then placed in a laminating p s o ny d s r f rm he e' n e ea nd'pre u e the card is laminated into a unitary structure.

Th g d t e d 19 n the p ef ed e badimen a e h Strips of a uminum foi eoa d h l cetate t impart gold colored surface characteristics to the foil; Since the black vinyl acetate thread is soluble in ketones and esters, the threads will be dissolved in-part and will run and streak the backing panel and photograph it any attempt is made to removethe plasticrco vers 15,16, 17 and 18 by dissolving: themfin a ketone or other solvent. Also, if the laminated plastic sheetslS, 16, '17 and 18 'were successfully removed mechanically without marring theappearance of the photograph, any attempt toreseal' the laminated identification card by a second lamination process will cause the vinylacetate threads which are thermoplastic in nature to melt and'fiow and produce a readily detectable discoloration or marring of the aptpearance of the card. i i p It will be appreciated that because of the deformation resisting character'of the aluminum photographic plate forming the photograph 11 and the magnetizable sheet metal forming the back panel 12 havingtintegral tabs 13 cedures to be practiced which involve detection of the;

magnetic conditions along thecard in accordance with selected codings of magneticcharacteristics.

Another preferred embodiment 'of the invention is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, wherein the card, indicated by reference character 10', co'mprises1a photograph 11,

ing colored threads and intermediate ink-bearing sheets 15 and 16 having the same characteristicsas the components bearing'correspondin'g reference characters 7 described in connection with the previous embodiment,

are arranged in layers to be laminated. The backing panel in this embodiment, however, is indicated generally 7 by the reference character 29 and is preferabl'yformed of two sheets 21 and 22 of thermoplastic material of the same composition as thesheets 15, 1d, 17 and 18, each having deposited 'on one face thereoftaniron oxide coating indicated by the reference character 23 of approqri mately one one-thousandth of an inch thickness on each e of p ti h eads-o la k yl a ta apped r sired, therefore, that only such-limitations shall be placed sheet; The iron'oxide coated. thermoplastic sheets Zl'and 22 are cemented or thermoplastically adhered together with the iron oxide coatings 23 disposed in faceto-face relationship, and the thickness ,of the thermoplastic sheets '21 and 22 together with the two one-thousandths inch 7 i total thickness ,of'iron oxide coating is adjustedto produce a final sheet thickness of five one-thousandths of an The backing panel 2! formed of iron oxide'coated sheets 21 and 22 islikewise provided with struck out lateral tabs 24 and upper and lower tabs 25 located so as to posi tior'r and overlie theranodized aluminum photograph 11 in the same manner as the securing tabs 13 and 14 of the t metallic backingpanellZ. V, t f i The iron oxide coating 23 in the'larninated identifica tion card 10' of this secondembodiment is likewise: ca-

pable of recordingifor long periodsof time magnetic field" Q conditionstdesired to be established, in the identificationcard due to the high permeability of the iron oxide; I if a While but 'two embodiments-of the invention "have been shown and described, his apparent that various. modifications may be' made in the invention without dc parting from; the spirit and scope thereof, and itis'de;

thereon as are imposed by the prior art and are set forth in the appended claims. I f

Iclaim: 1. An identificatiomcar'd formed of layers 'of sheet 7 material laminatedtogether under heat and pressurecomt posed in contact with one face ofrsaid backingmember e i and 1.4 securing the'photograph 11 on the backing panel,

' :Further, the formation the b ack ing panel 12 of a 1 rigid sheet metal having a plurality'of integrali'securing tabs. struck out of the backing member to receiyeland "hold a photograph against removalga photograph come prising a photographic reproduction tormedin the s urprising a backing member of rigid magnetizable sheet metal having a plurality ofintegral sheet metal securing tabs projecting from one face of the backing member to receive a photograph, a photographic carrier panel hav-'" 1 ing a photographic reproduction r'or'med. thereon diswith said securing tabs lappingnove'r opposite edges of said photographic carrierpanel and clasping 'the'same H intimately against said-backing member to hold the same against removal, and 'a plurality'of transparent theimo' 7 plastic sheets positioned over each of the front and back faces of the assembled'baclring mcmber and photograph to encase the same on both sides, atleastso meof said thermoplastic sheets having printed matter constituting identification information ink'edfon' inwardly: di p d n faces thereof. a a I 2. An identification; card formed, of a plurality of layers of sheet material laminated together under-heat and ,pressure comprising a backing member formed of face of a metallic plate positioned on one face of said backing member with said securing tabs disposed over and contacting opposite edge; of said photograph, a pinrality of transparent thermoplastic sheets positioned over each of the front and back faces of the assembled back ing member and photograph to encase the same on both sides, a plurality of said sheets having printed matter inked on inwardly disposed surfaces thereof.

3. An identification card formed of a plurality of layers of sheet material laminated together under heat and pressure comprising a backing member formed of a rectangular panel of magnetizable sheet metal having white ink coated faces and a plurality of integral securing tabs struck out of the backing member to receive and hold a photograph against removal, a photograph comprising a photographic reproduction formed in the surface of a metallic plate positioned on one face of said backing member with said securing tabs disposed over and contacting opposite edges of said photograph, a plurality of transparent thermoplastic sheets positioned over each of the front and back faces of the assembled backing member and photograph to encase the same on both sides, a plurality of said sheets having printed matter inked on inwardly disposed surfaces thereof.

4. An identification card formed of a plurality of layers of sheet material laminated together under heat and pressure comprising a backing member formed of rigid sheet metal having a plurality of integral securing tabs struck out of the backing member to receive and hold a photograph against removal, a photograph comprising a photographic reproduction formed in the surface of a surfaceoxidized metallic plate positioned on one face of said backing member with said securing tabs bent over opposite edges of said photograph in securing relation therewith, intermediate thermoplastic sheets positioned over each of the front and back faces of the assembled backing member and photograph to encase the same on both sides, and a sealing cover of sheets of thermoplastic material encasing the outer faces of said intermediate sheets, at least one of said intermediate sheets having printed matter inked on .an inwardiy disposed surface thereof, and the sheets forming said sealing cover having colored threads imbedded therein extending across portions of said photograph and said backing member.

5. A laminated identification card adapted to include a photographic image of the card holder and printed identification information formed of substantially coextensive layers of sheet material laminated into a unitary body under heat and pressure comprising a backing and reinforcing member of rigid magnetizable sheet metal having surface properties providing a suitable contrasting background for the printed identification information, a thin substantially rectangular photographic record overlying and contacting one face of the backing and reinforcing member and retained in position thereon, and at least one transparent thermoplastic sheet positioned over each of the front and back faces of the assembled backing and reinforcing member and photograph to encase the same on both sides, at least one of said thermoplastic sheets having printing matter constituting identification information inked on the inwardly disposed surface of the sheet immediately adjacent the surface of said backing and reinforcing member whereby the printing matter is protected from tampering by the overlying transparent thermoplastic sheet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 685,405 Lamb Oct. 29, 1901 2,547,838 Russell Apr. 3, 1951 2,556,825 Smith June 12, 1951 2,588,067 Whitehead Mar. 4, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 664,251 France Aug. 31, 1929 540,600 Great Britain Oct. 23, 1941 

